There is many a manager who has been told "work on the budget" and left to sink or swim. If that's different in your facility — that is, if each nurse manager is giving a course in the budgeting — I congratulate you. Otherwise, I have a helpful recommendation.

There is many a manager who has been told "work on the budget" and left to sink or swim. If that's different in your facility — that is, if each nurse manager is giving a course in the budgeting — I congratulate you. Otherwise, I have a helpful recommendation.

There is many a manager who has been told "work on the budget" and left to sink or swim. If that's different in your facility — that is, if each nurse manager is giving a course in the budgeting — I congratulate you. Otherwise, I have a helpful recommendation.

Several years ago I called some industry experts with a simple request. I asked if there was a place where I could find some basic benchmarks about industry spending. Didn't think I was looking for anything that was really off the wall, just run-of-the mill budgeting-type stuff.

To suddenly realize you are in the presence of greatness is a rare and heady experience. About a thousand of us shared that feeling Wednesday at the Assisted Living Federation of America conference, when Bill Strickland took the stage.

As a lowly high school student, I was never able to muster up much enthusiasm for the prom. Dancing in public? "Ewww... ," my 17-year-old brain responded, more often than not.

Now that Mother's Day has passed, it's on to the next best thing, Father's Day. This year, one long-term care professional has created an extra special twist to it, even though it's about a month away.

Imagine an industry where an entry-level person is encouraged to be hungry and aggressive, to work long hours for little pay, lead (almost by default) an unhealthy lifestyle, and not have to dress all that nicely. The person may be a closet introvert, possibly disorganized, and must able to spend long hours manipulating the written word.

Clearly, the assisted living field has made some amazing strides in the past few decades.

A wise editor once told me successful magazines need to target two basic human emotions: fear and greed. Over the years, that advice has proven remarkably resilient.

If you've ever caught in a pool of self-pity but you're not sure how to climb out, try sitting in the waiting room of a jam-packed pain clinic some time. I promise, your problems will pale in comparison.

Just say "cheese" was my first reaction when I saw the notice.

When Cori Reese entered a nursing home for the first time as a child, she was terrified. Sunday, she was named the top new nursing home administrator in the country.

These days, almost every industry event features a session about preparing for the road ahead. Inevitably, the same siren song can soon be heard: innovate or else.

These days, almost every industry event features a session about preparing for the road ahead. Inevitably, the same siren song can soon be heard: innovate or else.